Raukatauri Music Therapy Trust

The Raukatauri Music Therapy Trust, established in 2004 by singer Dame Hinewehi Mohi, enables wellbeing, empowerment and joy through music therapy, using music to promote the healing and personal growth of people with identified intellectual, physical, social or mental health challenges.

Now in our 19th year, we continue to operate New Zealand’s only music therapy centres. Services are managed and delivered through the Raukatauri Music Therapy Centre in Grafton, a beautiful new facility which opened to clients in June 2020. As demand for music therapy services has grown, the Trust has expanded across Auckland and currently operates five satellites in the region as well as delivering outreach programmes in partnership with over 60 schools and organisations nationally, allowing children and adults to receive music therapy directly in their classrooms, group homes, hospital rooms and rehabilitation units. These outreach programmes are run in collaboration with organisations such as Starship, Central Auckland Specialist School, Mason Clinic Regional Forensic Psychiatric Service and The Selwyn Foundation. In June 2018, we launched our first Regional Centre in Hawke’s Bay, followed by the opening of the Northland Regional Centre in March 2019. A third Regional Centre, this time serving the Bay of Plenty, opened in 2022, a year which also saw us open a full-time satellite service in the Far North.

We work with approximately 1000 clients per week, ranging in age from infants to those in their 100s. Our clients have a range of special needs, including cerebral palsy, autism spectrum and other developmental disorders, genetic disorders such as Down syndrome, complex medical conditions, acquired brain injuries, mental health disorders, bereavement, dementia, exposure to family violence and neglect, and complex trauma. Due to their physical, cognitive and behavioural challenges, the vast majority of our clients cannot participate in community activities such as sport, music lessons, drama and art. Music therapy provides them with the chance to express themselves, develop independence, engage with their community, and develop meaningful relationships. Furthermore, the benefits of the work we do positively impact our clients’ whānau and the wider communities in which they live.

We receive no direct government funding and will need to raise over $2,000,000 this year to keep all of our programmes running, while continuing to expand to reach unserved New Zealanders in need. Thank you for supporting our event and changing lives through music!